Sustainability in Architecture & Tourism: Hospitality’s New Standard
July 9 — July 19, 2013
DOWNLOAD PROGRAM FLYER
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Chicago is a global center for hospitality and tourism. From large-scale conventions hosted at McCormick Place and the “super tanker” hotels, to intimate get-a-way friendly boutique hotels, Chicago specializes in its own unique style of hospitality. Chicago is also a leader in the sustainability in tourism movement.
Students will spend two weeks immersed in the hospitality industry of Chicago, focusing on two key areas. First is the green initiative and the way in which it has changed the approach to amenity-based hospitality. Second, through an environment that fosters innovation, Chicago has become a leader in setting the hospitality standard, marrying together the European ethos of quality with the American willingness to incorporate new ideas and techniques.
Through a series of lectures and field study visits, students will learn, analyze, and physically experience the variety of Chicago’s tourism industry and study the history of innovation that enabled this growth. Key themes incorporated into the course include:
- The rebuilding of Chicago post-fire resulted in several innovations key to functional hospitality, including something as simple as “the alley”. Students will receive a brief history on this architectural renaissance.
- Students will understand the fundamentals of sustainability in tourism from architecture and planning to service and educating guests.
- Students will understand the Choose Chicago initiative, bringing Chicago higher visibility on the international tourism stage.
Additionally, students will participate in a series of field visits and guest lectures to further illustrate the immense impact of innovation in the hospitality industry in the last 20 years. Students will participate in visits and tours of key hotels in the city, from the boutique Lincoln Hotel to the convention-scale Chicago Hilton & Towers, and a trip to McCormick Place.
Extracurricular excursions include shopping along the famous Michigan Avenue and the quaint boutiques of the Bucktown neighborhood, sightseeing, an architectural boat tour, and an industry networking event. Students should plan accordingly and bring business attire.
To synthesize these themes, students will collectively plan a sustainable mid-range hotel from the framework provided. The goal is to demonstrate their understanding of a) how sustainability is now a fundamental element of a successful hotel, and b) to what extent continued innovation is required by attempting to solve a problem with their “mock” hotel by employing innovation as part of the solution. These will be presented to a mock “board of directors” panel.
Students should be comfortable, but remember that the visits and other off-campus excursions likely request that they be in business attire.
DISCIPLINE
Hospitality
AUDIENCE
Undergraduate
LEVEL
No prior discipline study required.
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
Courses are taught in English and require a moderate level of English comprehension in listening, reading, writing and verbal skills. If English is not the native language, a good reference would be English Language Fluency levels in the range of TOEFL 400 or above.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Yes. Student may receive academic credit if home school recognizes course content and outcomes, and chooses to award credit.
LENGTH
12 days
SCHEDULE
July 9 thru July 19, 2013
Students must arrive in Chicago on July 9 and have their departure scheduled on July 19.
REGISTRATION DUE DATE
June 9, 2013
COST
$1,950.00
COST DESCRIPTION
Cost includes Room & Board, Course Activities, and Excursions from July 9 thru July 19, 2013, and airport transfers from Chicago O’Hare International Airport and dormitories. Students are responsible for transportation to/from home country and Chicago O’Hare International Airport and all shopping expenses.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION – “ABOUT DESTINATION”
From a collection of quaint neighborhoods, each with its own character, Chicago is a rich and diverse city, booming with shopping, theatre, entertainment, sports, and gastronomic delights. From Michigan Avenue to Bucktown, Millennium Park to the Shedd Aquarium, and Navy Pier’s Ferris Wheel, every corner of Chicago has something to experience. With the longest inland coastline of any city, Chicago carries a balance of big-city feel and oceanfront-esque leisure, offering beaches, running and biking paths, and yacht clubs. The theatre district boasts a collection of the best in fine arts entertainment; from the Symphony Center to Lyric Opera House, Chicago and Cadillac Theatres. Sports are a passion for Chicagoans, whom are proud of their six professional sports teams; The Blackhawks (hockey), Bulls (basketball), Cubs and Sox (baseball), Bears (football), and the = Fire (soccer). Chicago hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup, and still carries the record for highest attendance ever of the games. Chicago’s restaurants celebrate all ethnic cuisines, fusion, and modernist cuisine; with venues celebrating traditional cuisine to some of the most innovative, offering chefs’ creations never seen before. Warm and inviting, Chicago looks forward to welcoming you.
For more information about Kendall’s international summer programs, please contact Terrell Johnson at 312-752-2206 or terrell.johnson@kendall.edu.
